Stamp-affixing machine.



STOROK.

STAMP AFFIXING MAOHIN'E.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 14, 1910.'

iwf/765561; r 5/ www F. W.- STORGK. STAMP AFIIXINGI MKOHINE.

'APPLIoATxoN FILED 11u14. 1910.

Patented may 3o, 1911.l

UNITEDA STATES. PATENT oEEIcE.

FREDERICK W. STORCK, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BYV DIRECT- AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 THE STANDARD STAMP AFFIXER COMPANY, 0F SOMER- VILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS. A

STAMP-AFFIXING MACHINE.

Specication of Letters Patent. Patented May 30, 1911.

To all 'whom 'it I'may concern:

v Be it known `that I, FREDERICK W. S'ronoK,`

a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Boston, in the county of Suifolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Stamp- Aiixing Machines, of which the following is a Specification, reference being had therein to the accompanyin drawings.

The invention rates to a machine for moistening and aiiixing stamps to envelops, postal cards or wrappers, or .afiixing the wrappers to labels or other flat s11r faces,'and 1s an lmprovement u on the machine shown in an application ed by me March 25, 1910, Serial No. 551,528.

The invention relates especially to an improvement upon the feed for the stampstrip or` label-strip. In said prior application the strip was fed by means of two c lindrical rolls between which the stamp-strip y passed, and means were provided whereby the Said feed-rolls at each period of movement moved through a predetermined arc of movement, thus feeding the stamp-strip an exact predetermined distance at each period of movement. This distance of feed was supposed to be the exact length of a stamp. `The stamps with which the device is intended to be used come in long strips of a single stamp in width and coiled around -a shaft, forming a Iroll from which the stamp-stri is unrolled in using the machine. Theoretical the stamps are of `an absolutel uniform'size, and the distance between the ine ofv perforations which marksy the tearing point of the stamp from the strip and the next followin line of perforations which marks the .dividing line from the next following stamp is supposed to be uniform. If this were in fact the case, the feed mechanism of the device shown in the said previous'ppatent application would work perfectly as ,the feed is absolutely uniform. It is found in fact, however, that the distances 'between succeeding lines of perforations vary somewhat, and it sometimes hap ens that if a stamp-strip is being used in W ich the distances are slightly in excess of the standard for which the machine is set that the projecting stamp is severed from'the strip a little ojf of the intended line, and if this same variation continues through the strip so thatthere is a slight excessat each feed, the variation will appear more and more for each succeeding stamp, and after a while the stamp-strip will be severed so far from the proper dividing line as to spoil the stamps by cutting through the body thereof.

One feature of the invention relates tQ the construction of the feed in such form that the lines of perforations in the stampstrip form a part of the feed..

Another feature of the invention relates to a safety-device or take-up which will insure the stamp being properly positioned at every feed movement even if the stamps are im roperly spaced.

nother feature of the invention relates to the positive locking of the feed to prevent any backward movement or slipping of the feed during the operation of the device after the proper feeding movement is completed. I

The invention will be fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

and the novel features are pointed out and the case, showing the interior mechanism in `side elevation, and showing an envelop fed into position for stamping and the plunger partially depressed, and the stamp-strip fed forward for a portion of its full feeding movement, showing the method of feeding. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the feed mechanism in the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the feed mechanism, showing the position corresponding to Fig. 2.` Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 4, showing the parts nearly at the end of the feed movement, the folding 'line of the stamp-strip being engaged by the safety-positioning device. Fi 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 1, showing the rear elevation of the feed mechanism. Fig. `7 is a section ony line 7-7 of Fig. 1showing in plan the feed mechanism. Fig. 8 is a detail of the safety-positioning device and the feed-lockplunger. Fig. 2 is a sectional view throughl l `v1ded having a top cover 3 formed with a y trough or cup-shaped depression 4 in the the bot-tom of which are one or more apertures 5 through which the water will rise in the,

cu recess 6 to the level that it stands in the ho der 2. The envelops or cards to which .the stamps are to be aixed are fed along on the level top surface of the cover 3, across the topl of the recess 6, to a position which will bringv that portion of the envelop to which the stamp is to be aixed beneaththc presser-plate 7 on the lower end vof the plunger 8. As the envelop is pushed back into position under the plunger, itA passes under the ivoted fingers 11 mounted on shaft 12 whlch normally dip into the cup 6 and are lifted by the forward movement of the envelop under the fingers which thus trail over the envelop and leave lines of water on the envelop. The correct forward position of the envelop will be controlled by forward end of the envelop striking against the stop 13. A side guide 19 guides the side edge of the envelop so that it will feed in proper alinement.

; The stamps 14 are in a longstrip of a sin e stamp in width, and the strip is coiled .run lfrom the' coil.

around a shaft 15 forming a roll 16 inclosed within a case 17, said case having a feed aperturelS on the under side of suflicient width to allow the passageof the stampstrip. Thence the strip passes down on the backside of the feed-roll 20 in contact there-' with; thence under the feed-roll 20 on the plate 22 and forward above the cover 3 beneath the presser-plate 7. Rref'erably a guide-pin or roll 21 is provided under which the stri passes before it reaches the feedroll 20 1n order to guide it. Said feed-roll 20 is mounted on a shaft 24. Instead 'of be-` ing cylindrical, as were the feed-rolls of said previous application, it is polygonal in crosssection, preferably four-sided, forming a series of four edges 25 which successively engage the stamp-strip at eachquarter turn of the feed-roll, the sides 27 of the feed-roll being referably concaved to allow for the curl o the stamps, as shown, as the stamps usually are slightly curled as the strip is The distance between two edges of the feed-roll is preferably equal to the distance between the lines of perforations of the shortest stam s.

Mounted fast on the sha 24, which ear ries the feed-roll 20, is a ratchet 26 formed with four teeth 30 spaced equally apart corresponding with the number of sides of the four-sided feed-roll 20, and so disposed that one of the teeth will come about midway between the two corners of each side of the feed-roll 20. A pawl 31 is adapted to engage with the teeth 30 of the ratchet 26, said pawl being actuated by the downward movement ofthe plunger 8, as will be hereinafter. described, so that in each downward strokeof the plunger, the ratchet will be moved kthrough an arc equal to the distance between two teeth. `That is, if there are four teeth, it will be moved through an arc of ninety degrees, and the feed-roll 20 will be given a quarter of a rotation.

The plate 22, which supports the stampstrip as it passes forward under the feedroll 20, is pivoted at 28 in ears rising from the stop 13 and is normally held up in4 contact with the feed-roll by a spring 29.

At each end of the feed-roll 20 on the shaft 24 and fast to the feed-roll 20 or made integral therewith, so as to move with said feed-roll, are two disks or heads 32 having four flat edges 33 which project outwardly at least as far as a straight line joining two adjacent corners 25 of the feed-roll so that if the feed-roll is laid on a Hat surface, the

straight sides 33 will contact with the flat v surface and the edges 25' may also rest on the flat surface. The preferable method of forming the feed-roll 20 and said disk orhead portions 32 is to first form a rectangular bar. or block with entirely flat faces and cut out the intermediate portions of each face between the two end portions which are left to serve as the disks 32, so as to form the concave or inwardly curved faces 27. In this way, a plain surfaceA laid fiat upon theface 33 will contact withthe edges 25 of' the feed-roll. The corners of the disks 32 are beveled off, forming thebeveled corners 34 so as to allow the feeding edges 25 of the feed-roll 20 to engage the stamp-strip against the plate 22 when the disk turns.

At each side of the pivoted plate 22 there is a rail 35, the two rails 35 being spaced apart sufficiently so that the space between them 1s equal to the length of'the feed-roll 20, and the two opposite disks 32 are adapted to rest upon the rails 35. This leaves a thin space 36 between the upper surface of the plate-22 and the edges of the feed-roll 20 of a width equal to the lengt-h of the feed-roll and of the width of the stamp-stri through which the stamp-strip is threade When the feed-roll is at rent and the plunger is in .the elevated position, as shown in Fig. 1, the

two disks 32 -will stand' with one of the flat faces of each diskresting square upon the rails 35, and the stamp-strip is free to slide under the feed-roll in the space 36.

The stamp-strip is first threaded up around over the back side of the "feed-roll 20 and through the space 36 on the under lside of the feed-disk forward on the plate 22 until the front edge of the forward stamp is even with the edge of the plate 22, and in such position that the upper and lower rear edges 25 of the feed-roll will respectively engage one of the lines of erforations of the strip, the stamp being owed in slightly into the concave de ression formed by the inwardlv curved si e 27 of the feed-roll if thewidth of the `stamp is slightly greater than the length-of the chord joinin the said `upper andlower edges 25 of the eed-roll When the feed-roll 20 turns, the upper and lower rear edges-25, as viewed in Fig. 1, being in engagement respectively with the lines of perforations of the stri the uppermost edge 25 of the feed-roll will exert a pull on the stamp-strip, like a tooth, thereby 'pulling the strip down from the roll, and' the engagement of the lower edge 25 with the line of perforations will feed forward the portion of the strip which is beneath it correspondingly with the length which is pulled down from the coil; that is, during the quarter turn of the .feed-roll, the stamp-strip will be fed forward a distance equal to the length of a single stamp. If, by any chance, the stam s of the strip are, of irregular or unusual ength throughout the strip, or if any two successive lines of perforations happen to be of4 unusual distance apart, or if for any otherreason the strip has been insufficiently fed forward, so that there is a portion of the stamp under the feed-roll projecting slightly rearwardly of the feedroll, as shown in Fig. 5, ,if t e stamp-strip were left in this position, then the said irregularly 4fed stamp just s oken of, which isbeneath the feed-roll, wil when it is fed forward at a subsequent stage, be imperfectly positioned 'for the cutter to sever the stampv along the line of perforations', but it will be cut a little back or forward thereof.

For this reason, a compensating device, such as previously referred to, is employed. As already stated, the thin space 36 on the under side of the feed-roll is of sulicient depth for the fairly loose play of thev stamp, so that the stamp-strip may be movedback-` ward or forward under the feed-roll. The compensating'device referred to consists of a device which en ages the crease or fold of the stamp-strip a ong the line of perforations which projects to the rear1 of the feedroll, if there is any such rearwardl projecting portion, and shoves it forwar into exactly the right position as the feed-roll comes to a rest. It vis obvious that various forms of mechanical expedients may be employed for this purpose,.the preferred form being that shown'in the drawings andfvis, as `follows: A lever V70, pivoted at 71 tothe frame on the under-side of the plate 22, projects lupwardly and slightly rearwardly, having at its up er end a finger 72, preferably flexible, as fhr instance a flexible spring plate, which projects up somewhat above the plate 22 through a slot 73 therein so located that when the feed-roll is in its position Aof re'st at the end of a feed movement, the finger 72 will contact with the' lower rear feeding edge of the feed-roll or rather with thefstampf.

strip in contact with the feed-roll'when'gthere is a stamp-strip passing through. When the feed-roll is turning, as shown in Figs.g2fand 4, the edge 25 of the feed-roll will lachgas 'a cam to cause the plate 22 to turn l,downs ward as it rides over it against the pressure of the spring 29, as will be seen from Figs. 2 and 4, and the enga ement of the platet22 with the lever 7 0 wil turn the lever 70 back on its pivot until after the feed-roll has reached the center of its movement. During the latter half of the movement of the feedroll, the plate 22 will be rising under the pressure of the spring 29, and the spring 74, whichis coiled around the pivot shaft 71, will cause the lever l and the presser-finger 72 to turn toward its normal position until p at the end of the quarter turn of the feedroll the finger 72 will again come up into its full forward position. In so doing, it will i enga e the rearwardly projecting corner or fold 5 ofthe stamp-strip, as shown in Fig. 5, just before the feed-roll reaches the end of its forward movement and push the stamp-strip forward until the fold, whichV is along the lineof perforations, comes up against the lower rear feeding edge 25 of the feed-roll, thus properly positloning the stamp. The only possible variation which could then exist in the foremost stampwhich projects beyond the y-front end of the plate 22 to be engaged by the cutter would be such slight variation as would be due to a single stamp or combined variation of the stamps in front of the com ensator 72 which inany event would be so s ight as to be of no great consequence. The device thus prevents the accumulation of variations through a long series of stamps.

The plunger 8 1s formed with a bore-,39 A

extending yup from the lower end thereof within which is a coil spring 40, the lower f end of which is seated upon a key or `in 41 which is mounted 'in the frame an rests upon the cheek-pieces 62, 63, the wallsof Y split end. The edge 51 of the presser-plate 7 forms a cutting or shearing edge in connection with the cutting edge 52 o the plate 22 to sever the stamps fromthe strip. 4The presser-plate 7 is adjustably connected with the plunger so that it may have a little ad' justment in order that it'may be properly adjusted with relation to the cutting edge 52 of the plate 22. This is fully shown and described in said previous application and is shown and described here merely for the purpose o'f understanding the construction. The presser-plate 7 is formed with a dovetailed groove in its upper side and the lower end of the plunger 8 is formed with a dovetailed tongue 64, the two tongues of the dove-tail being respectively on the two l branches of the plunger which engage with turning the screw in the other direction, the

friction is diminished so that the presserplate may be adjusted.

` Projecting horizontally from the frame is a stud 43 to which is fulcrumed a bifurcated lever having two arms 44,45, between which extends a roll 46 mounted on a stud 47 projecting from the side of the plunger. The

,pawl 31 is pivoted at 48 on the lower end vof the arm 45. The arms 44 and 45 form an -inclined cam-way between them so that as the plunger 8 is depressed and the roll 46 carried thereby engages with the inclined upper surface of the arm 45, the bifurcated lever formed by the arms 44, 45, will be Yturned on its pivot, moving the pawl 31 to the right from the position shown in Fig. 1,

giving to the ratchet 26, and therefore to the feed-roll 20, a quarter rotation.

Itis important that th feed-roll 20 should not have any additional forward turn' by its own momentum after the quarter turn for feeding the stamp; otherwise the position of the. stamp-strip will be disarranged. Such forward slip is not likely to occur, but I prefer to have a positive lock to prevent any such slip. Such a lock is provided as follows: Mounted fast on the shaft 24 of the feed-roll, at the opposite end fromthe ratchet 26, is Aanother ratchet 76 whose teeth 77 point in opposite direction.

`to thel teeth of the ratchet 26.' Pivoted to vthe side of the frame or any suitable support, as at 78, is a dog 79 which is adapted to engage with the teeth of the ratchet 76,V

Pthe teeth of the ratchet 76 being so positioned with -relation to ythe teeth of the ratchet 26 that as -soon as .the feed-roll has reached the end of a forward feed movement,

the tooth of the dog 79 will engage with one of the teeth of the ratchet 76 and positively hold the ratchet 76 from any backward movement and consequently prevent any forward turn of the feed-roll 20. The dog 79 is formed with a horizontal slot located above the fulcrum 78 in which is loosely held a pin 80 whose inner end is seated upon a spring 81 which is under compression and holds the head of the pin back against the wall of the case and tends also, by its expansion, to hold the forward end of the dog down with its tooth 82 in engagement with one of the teeth 77 of its ratchet. In order, however, to enable the feed-rool 20 to, be

the ratchet 26, itis necessary that the dog 79 be disengaged from the tooth 77 before 4the /feed can take place. For this reason, means are provided whereby when Vthe plunger 8 rises, after it has been pressed Y down to feed and aix a stamp, it will disengage the dog and hold it disengaged -until the next downward movement. The means provided are as follows: On the under side /of the dog 79 is a downwardly projecting pin 83 which is engaged by the ,upper side of the presser-plate 7 just beforethe plunger 8 reaches the end of its return upward stroke, thereby slightly lifting the dog 79 sufficiently to disengage the tooth 82 from the tooth 77 of the ratchet. On the down stroke of the plunger, as soon as the plunger starts,` the feed-roll will. begin to ,move, carrying the tooth 77 ofthe ratchet 76 out that by the time the plunger has-descended 82 of the dog will be riding over the back of the tooth 77 in position to engage the next following tooth 77 at the end ofthe forward feed of the roll under the actuation of the pawl 31 with the ratchet 26.

The feed-roll 20, as shown in the drawings and as described, is formed with four facesA and the disks 32 are also described as formed with four corresponding fiat faces 33 (disregarding the beveled corners 34) constructed to give'to the feed-roll a quarter turn atleach stroke. four-sided form is the most practicable. It is obvious, however, that the feed-roll might be-constructed with either more or less than four sides and the disks 32 and the driving mechanism correspondingly modified, but in such `case the feed-,roll should be made of such size that each period of movement will feed the stamp-strip throu h a space equal to the length of a single st p and in order to properly feed the strip, the Aedges of the faces should still be spaced apartsuiiiciently adjacent lines of perforations. It is also obfrom under the tooth 82 @of the dog 79 sov and, therefore, the driving mechanism is '115 It is found that the I for two adjacent edges to engage with twof turned by the pawl 31, which engages with l far enough for the dog to drop, the tooth v v vious that the feed 'mechanism would operi 130.

l dle on the upper end of the lunger`8, forc- Y ate with an unperforated strip because the feeding or engaging edges or corners of the feed-roll would contact with the strip with sufficient friction to cause the strip to feed, although it is preferable to have the strip perforated or at least creased' along the divisionQlines, because the perforations or creases help the feeding. It is obvious also that it is not necessary for the said feeding edges or corners 25 to contact with the stamp-strip throughout the whole width of the strip.

The operation of the device is as follows: The stamp-roll being mounted in its bearings in the case, the free end is unrolled sufficiently to thread it around underl the feedroll to the forward edge of the plate 22 so that the forward ledge of the advance stamp will reach just to the cutting edge 52 of the plate 22. The operator now pushes a letter in from the front on` the plate 3 until the innermost end of the letter strikes against the stopl. In so doing, it rides under the fingers 11 which leave lines of water upon the envelop. When the envelopl is positioned, the operator will press down upon the haning down the plunger, and t e pawl 31 will cause the ratchet 26 and the..feedroll 20 to move through a lquarter turn and carry the stamp-strip forward the length of one stamp, brlnglng the outermost stamp out from-the supportlng-plate 22 beneath the presserplate 7. The continued downward descent of the plunger causes the cutting edge of the presser-plate, by its shearing action with the cutting edge 52, to separate the outermost stamp from the strip, and then resses it down upon the envelop, pressing t e stamp thereon and spreading the threads of water so that the stamp will be moistened and the pressure will cause the stamp to adhere t0 the envelop. During the rotation of the ratchet 26 and the feed-roll, the tooth of the locking dog 79 will trail .over the ratchet 76 and fall in behind one of the teeth 77 to' broadly include what are designated as labels and for convenience o f designation and for the purpose of avoiding repetltlon the words stamp and stamp-strip employed 1n A the specification and claims are used in a broad sense as above mentioned.

What I clalm 1s:

1L In a machine for afixing stamps which are fed in a strip, a rotary feed roll polygonal in cross section, each face of the roll having two edges which are parallelwith the axis of the roll, the angular edges formed by contiguous faces of the roll being spaced :apart equal to the distance the strip is to be vfed for a single stamp, rhereby two adjatwo adjacent division lines an feed the strip.

2. In a device for aiiixing stamps which are fed in a strip having lines of perforationsbetween the successive stamps, a rotary feed roll, said feed roll being polygonal in cross section transversely of its axis, each face of the feed roll being of a. length cross sectionally of the axisequal to the distance between twol adjacent dlvision lines of the stamp strip, the angularedges formed at the junction of each face with its contiguous faces engaging with the stri p along the division lines to feed the strip.

3. In `a device for afiixing stamps which arefed in a strip having lines of perforations betweenthe successive stamps, a rotary feed roll, said feed roll being polygonal in cross section transversely of its axis, each face of the feed roll being of a length cross sectionally of the axis equal to the distance between two adjacent division ylines of the stampstrip, the angular edges formed at the junction of each face with its contiguous faces engaging with the strip along the divi- `sion lines to feed the strip and means for face of the feed-roll having its opposite edges which are parallel with the axis adapted to engage two adjacent lines of perforations of the stamp strip which form the dividing lines between each stamp and the adjacent stamp, means for preventingh the stamp strip to said feed-roll and means for actuating said feed-roll whereby the two opposite parallel edges of.. one ofthe faces of the feed-roll will engage two adjacent lines of erforations of the stamp strip at each period of movement of the feed-roll through an arc equal to that subtended by one face of the feed-roll and feed the stamp strip the length of one stamp.

5. In a device for ailixing stamps which are fed in a strip having dividing lines between the successive stamps, a rotary feedroll, said feed-roll being polygonal in crosssection transversely of itsn axis and having its faces inwardly curved viewed endwise of ,the feed-roll and with straight parallel edges longitudinally of the roll, each face of Athe feed-roll having its opposite edges which lines of the stamp strip and means for rotat- Y ing -said feed-roll on its axis in a step-bystep movement, whereby the stamp strip is fed by the engagement of said parallel edges of the feed-roll with two adjacent division lines of the stamp strip through a distance equal to the length of a single stamp at each step-by-step movement;

6. In a device for aiiixing stamps which are fed in a strip having dividing lines between the successive stamps, a rotary feedsite straight edges roll, said feed-roll being polygonal in crosssection transversely of its axis and having its faces inwardly curved viewed endwise of the feed-roll and with straight parallel edges longitudinally of the roll, each face of the' feed-roll having its opposite edges which are parallel with the axis of the feed-'roll adapted to engage two adjacent division lines of the length of one stamp.

7. In a device for affixin stamps which are fed in a strip, a rotary eed-roll polygonal in cross-section transversely of its axis, a

' supporting plate for the stamp-,strip beneath the feed-roll alon which the stamp-strip is 1 fed between the eed-roll and said supportv cent stamp-engaging edges feed the stamp-strip.

ing-plate, the faces of said feed-roll bemg of such width with relation to the stamps that two adjacent edges of the feed-roll parallel with the axis thereof are adapted to engager thestamp-strip along two adjacent dividing lines between the stamps and means for rotating the feed-roll whereby the two adjaof the feed-roll 8. In a machine for afixing stamps which are fed in a strip, a rotary feed-roll, means for actuating the feed-roll through a predetermined arc of movement at each period of operation, said feed-roll having on its periphery feeding edges which are adapted to engage the stamp-strip along the lines of division between the stamps and feed the stamp-stripat each' period of vmovement a distance equal to the .length of'4 a single stalnp, and a movable compensating member which follows the foldof the stamp-strip and forces it against the feeding edge of the feed-roll. f

9. In a' device for feeding a strip of' stamps in a stamp 'aiXing machine, a rotary feed-rolll polygonal in cross-section through its axis, a supporting-plate for the stampstrip beneath the feed-roll hav'inga way along which the stamp-strip may be fed between the feed-roll and said supportingthe faces of said feed-roll being of plate,

that

su h width with relation to the stampsl through its axis,

vtwo y adjacent edges of the feed-'roll are adapted l-to engage the stamp-strip along the dividing lines between the stamps, means for rotating the feed-roll and causing the stampengaging edges of the feed-roll to feed the stamp strip and a movable compensating member whichl engages the rearwardly projecting fold of the stamp-strip during the j movement of the feed and means for actuating said compensator whereby it forces the said projecting fold of the stamp-strip forward in contact with the edge of the feedroll.

10. In a device for feeding a strip of stamps in a stamp aiiixing machine, a rotary fd-roll polygonal in cross-section transversely of its axis; a supporting-plate for the stamp-strip beneath the feed-roll, the faces of said feed-roll being of such width with relation to the stamps that'two adjacent edges of thefeed-roll to engage the stamp-strip along the dividing line between the stamps, head at each end of the feed-roll, rails on said supporting-plate spaced apart equal to the distance between said] headsand which form seats for said heads'when the feed-roll is at rest, thereby forming a way for the stamp-strip between the feed-roll and the top ofsaid supporting-plate of a are adapted a polygonal width equal to the distance between the rails, and means for rotating said feed-roll in a? step-by-step movement, each period of movement being through an are equal to the arc subtended by one 0f the sides ofv the feed-roll.

11. In a device for feeding a strip of stamps in a stamp aftixi-ng machine, a rotary feed-roll polygonal in cross-sectlon a supporting-plate for the stamp-strip beneath the feed-roll, the faces oflsaid feed-roll being of such width with relation to the stamps that two adjacent edges of the feed-roll are adapted to .engage the stamp-strip along the dividing lines between the stamps, a polygonal headv at eachl end of the feed-roll, rails onsaid supporting-plate spaced apart equal to the distance between said heads and which form seats for said heads when the feedroll is at rest, thereby forming a way for the stamp-strip between the feed-roll and the top of said supporting-plate of a width equal to the distance between the rails and means for rotating said feed-roll in .a stepby-step movement, each period of vmovement being through an arc equal to the arc subtended by one 0f the sides of .the feed-roll, said supporting-plate being pivoted at its forward end in frontv of the feed-roll and being'tilted by the engagement of the feeding edges of the feed-roll during its turning movement.

12. In a device for .feeding a strip of stamps in a stamp atlixing machine, a rothe stamp-strip between the 'tary feed-roll, a supporting plate roll in a stamp-strip beneath the feed-roll, the faces of said feed-roll being of such width with vrelation to the stamps that two adjacent edges of the feed-roll are adapted to engage the stamp-strip along the dividing lines between the stamps, a polygonal hea at each end of the feed-roll, rails on said `supportin -plate spaced apartequal to thel distance etween said heads and which form seats for said heads when the feedf a way for y eed-roll and the top of said supporting-plate of a width equal to the distance between the rails and means 'for rotating said feed-roll in a stepby-'step movement, each period of movement being through an arc equal to the are subtended by one of the sides of the feedroll, said supporting-plate being pivoted at its forward end in front of the feed-roll and being tilted by the engagement of the feeding edges of the feed-roll durin its turning movement, and means for ho din the supporting-plate at all times in yiel ing1 engagement with the heads of the feedro 13. In a device for feeding a strip of stamps 'in a stamp aiiixing machine a rofor the olygoroll is at rest, thereby formin stamp strip beneath the feed-roll, a

nal head at each end of the feed-ro l, rails on said supporting plate spaced apart equal to the distance between said heads and which form seats for said heads when the feed-roll is at rest thereby forming a way for the stamp strip between theI feedroll and the top of said supporting plate of a width equal to the distance between the rails, and means for rotating said feedstep-by-step movement, each period of movement being through an are equal to the 'arc subtended-by one of the sides of the heads'of the feed-roll.

14. In a machine for alXing stamps which are fed in a strip, arotary feed-roll which is adapted to engage the stamp-strip and feed the stamp-strip, a plunger, mechanism actuated by said plunger which engages said feed-roll and moves it through a predetermined arc of movement at each downward stroke of the plunger, thereby causing the feed-roll to feed the stamp-` 4 `strip a distance e ual to the length of a at-the end of its ositive forward feed.

15. In a mac ine for aixing'* stamps which are fed in a strip, a rotary'feed-roll which is adapted to engage the stamp-strip and feed the' stamp-strip, a plunger, mechanism actuated by said plunger which engages said feed-roll and moves it through a predetermined are of movement at each downward stroke of the lunger, thereby causing the Vfeed-roll to fee the stamp-strip a distance equal to the length of a single stamp and locking mechanism controlled by the plunger which, when the plunger descends, is caused to become operative and lock the feed-roll against forward movement under its own momentum at the end of its positive forward feed, the return movement of 'said ,plunger causing the release of said locking mechanism. y

16. In a stamp alixing machine for feeding stamps in a strip having lines-of perforations between successive stamps, a rotary feed-device having projections which are ada ted to successively engage the lines of per orations in the stamp-strip, means fory presenting -the stamp-strip to the said `feed mechanism, a Sever a stamp an envelop, and `mechanism connected with the feed-roll whereby .the actuation of the plunger-actuates the feed-roll whereby the projections on the feed-roll will engage with the lines of perforations in the stamp-strip and feed the stamp-strip.

17. In 'a machme or aiiixing stamps which are fed in a strip, means for engaging 'the Astrip at the division line between two adjoining stamps and feeding the strip 4through a predetermined distance at each operation, and a movable compensating member which forces the division line of the strip into engagement with the said feed mechamsm.

18. In a machine for aiixing stamps which are fed in a strip, means for intermlttently feeding a stamp strip through a umform distance, means for releasing the engagement ofthe feed with the stamp strlp at the end of each period of movement thereby leaving the stamp strip free and a movable compensating member which engages the freed stamp strip on the division line between two unseparated stamps and is adapted to give to the stamp strip an additional forward movement if the stam strip has been left by the' feed with the dlvision line back of a certain point. 19. In a machine fori aiixing stamp which are fed in a strip, a rotary stamp feed, means for actuating the stamp feed through a predetermined arc of movement at each period of operation, means for disengaging the stamp stri land the feed from each other at the en of eachV period of movement and a movable compensating member which engages the freed stamp strip on the division line between two unseparated stamps and causes it to move forward an adlunger which is adapted to om a strip and press 1t upon ditional distance if the stamp strip has been leftbyvthe feed with said division line back of a certain point. v

20. In a device for feeding a strip of stamps, a rotary feed roll, a supporting plate for the stamp strip beneath the. feed roll, a polygonal head at each end ofthe feed roll, ralsed port-ions of said supporting plate which form seats for said heads` when the feed roll is at rest thereby forming a channel for the stamp strip free from the feed roll.

21. In a device for feeding a ystrip of stamps, a rotary feed roll, a supporting plate for the stamp strip beneath the feed roll, a polygonal head at each end of the feed roll, raised portions of said supporting plate 'which 'form seatsfor said heads when the feed roll is at rest'thereby 4forming a channel' for the stamp strip free from the feed roll, and a movable compensating member which engages the stamp strip when free on the 22. In a device vfor feeding a strip of stamps, a rotary feed roll, a supporting plate for the stamp strip beneath the feed rol1,-a

polygonal head at each end of thefeed rol?,

raised.v portions of said supporting plate which form seats for said heads When the feed roll is at rest thereb `forminga channel for the-stamp strip ree from the feed roll, said feed roll and said supporting plate having yielding movement of one with rela tion to the other.

In testimon whereof I aflix my signature, in presence o two Witnesses.

FREDERICK W. STORCK. Witnesses:

WILLrAM A. COPELAND, ALICE H. MORRISON. 

